Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Waterman family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1805-1815
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 34 x 18 7/8 x 19 1/4in. (86.4 x 47.9 x 48.9cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Fitzhugh McMaster
Object number1985.98.3
DescriptionPainted side chair in the Federal, or neoclassical, style, with a cross slat-back, a rush balloon seat, and tapered front legs. The back of the chair is formed by a rectangular crest rail at the top between two stiles. The crest rail is bowed back in the center; the top edge of the crest rail is located about one inch below the top of the stiles. Below the crest rail are two slender, crossed slats, over a horizontal, rectangular rail. Above the seat, each stile is curved backward, and has a flat front. Below the seat, each leg is tapered and curves backward. The woven rush seat, which is tilted down slightly at the back, is balloon shaped: the seat has a single rail at the front and sides that extends forward, curves out to the side then around to a projecting curve in front. Each front leg is tapered and has a recessed ring at the ankle. The front stretcher is turned with a ball flanked by a tapered section; it has a flat front surface at the center. Each side of the armchair has two plain, turned stretchers. The back has a single plain, turned stretcher.
Painted Decoration. The chair frame is painted olive green with gold, red and dark green painted decoration. The crest rail has a band of gold Greek key decoration with bands of dark green and red paint above and below. Each slat is decorated with bands of red and gold paint. The flat front surface of each upper stile is outlined with red and decorated at the top and center with small gold painted flowers that are highlighted with red paint. The edges of the seat rail facing and the recessed ring at each ankle are outlined with thin red lines. The center of the front seat rail facing has a horizontal line of gold outlined with two thin red lines. The flat front surface of the front stretcher is outlined in gold and red paint. The front of each front leg is decorated with small gold painted flowers that are highlighted with red paint. The rush seat is coated with a thick layer of grey paint.
Condition: The top of the right slat has split. The chair frame has a later olive-green paint applied over a lighter mint green paint. The olive-green paint is flaking, revealing the lighter green paint or bare wood below. The rush seat is probably replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and each slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The seat is constructed of four curved seat rails that provide support for the woven rush and are concealed behind thin seat rail facings. The back seat rail and the back of the side seat rails are tenoned into the stiles. The front of the side seat rails and the front seat rail are tenoned into semi-circular blocks supported by a tenon at the top of the front legs. The back seat rail facing is nailed to the rush over the back seat rail. The front and side seat rails are concealed behind a single thin seat rail facing that is nailed around the front and side edges of the seat. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
Painted Decoration. The chair frame is painted olive green with gold, red and dark green painted decoration. The crest rail has a band of gold Greek key decoration with bands of dark green and red paint above and below. Each slat is decorated with bands of red and gold paint. The flat front surface of each upper stile is outlined with red and decorated at the top and center with small gold painted flowers that are highlighted with red paint. The edges of the seat rail facing and the recessed ring at each ankle are outlined with thin red lines. The center of the front seat rail facing has a horizontal line of gold outlined with two thin red lines. The flat front surface of the front stretcher is outlined in gold and red paint. The front of each front leg is decorated with small gold painted flowers that are highlighted with red paint. The rush seat is coated with a thick layer of grey paint.
Condition: The top of the right slat has split. The chair frame has a later olive-green paint applied over a lighter mint green paint. The olive-green paint is flaking, revealing the lighter green paint or bare wood below. The rush seat is probably replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and each slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The seat is constructed of four curved seat rails that provide support for the woven rush and are concealed behind thin seat rail facings. The back seat rail and the back of the side seat rails are tenoned into the stiles. The front of the side seat rails and the front seat rail are tenoned into semi-circular blocks supported by a tenon at the top of the front legs. The back seat rail facing is nailed to the rush over the back seat rail. The front and side seat rails are concealed behind a single thin seat rail facing that is nailed around the front and side edges of the seat. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
Status
Not on view
